August 2015 Part 4

[Dani240]

New thread for all of us August ladies!

Stats here: docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1e5Gsaz5GkI6o2FYxLVvBi29zs83njdtn6giWBNAkGJM/edit?usp=sharing

Come and chat galaxy, we're all very nice!

Wow to all that batch cooking jockstar. I'm super impressed.

Glad you had a good day fanby. well done for saying something to dh about his mum. I would have been a lot less tactful!

I'm home - scan was all good. It was nice to see him again as we hadn't since 20 weeks. The consultant was a bit puzzled as to why last night's consultant made me stay in. But I suppose at least I know it's all been thoroughly checked.

I'm so going to get in my bed now and stay there until at least lunch time tomorrow.

Yay glad your back home safely frolic Also I bet you enjoyed the scan - I know I would to see the diff from the 20 week scan.
fanby well done on getting your DH to help clean (I would be fuming that his mum didn't help to clean the following morn!) I guess I'm lucky as my in laws live in the USA - but my mum more than makes up for it. She's a very excited nanny to be!

Baby is doing his usual wiggling - I have a feeling that I have a child who will be up in the night and sleep in the day.....

Hospital bag is now finally done - been faffing about with it for weeks so can tick that off my list....been informed to buy 'disposable briefs' which sounds very sexy! Lol

Hi everyone! My daughter was born on Wednesday morning weighing 7lb 2oz. She's so beautiful and I can't believe she is here.

Morning you lovely ladies!!

Reporting here from scotlandshire!!

What a week it's been, induced, laboured, cut open, had DD (did I just type that?!), moved 700 miles, spent most of last night jiggling a newborn into sleep submission!

My body is still so achey and bloody sore from the EMCS that it feels like I'll never recover, but at least my fanjo is 'honeymoon fresh'
The worst bit about the EMCS is having to rely so much on others when I feel I should be doing more for dd, the daily injections and epic eindypops are crap too.

Breastfeeding has been an unfortunate non-starter for me, I had my previous suspicions it might be but the 'helpful' hospital midwives have left me with bruises and scanned nipples in an effort to prove how simple it is... And I'm
Not just taking a little scab, both my nipples look like they'd fall off, so black and bruised with deep bloody welts on them. Thankfully I've no issue FF, as long as she's being fed it's all good!

Having dd her in real life is very surreal, can't believe I carried her in me. Here's a pic.

So today we start the mammoth unpacking in our new house. I'm resigned to directing not actual lifting and dh's family are helping in the main. Dh took over the house yesterday, I've not seen it yet so I'm excited to find out where I'm spending my next few years.

I really hope you all are doing well and gearing up for d-day. I haven't posted super details about the birth process but I will if you guys want me to.
Have a freakin awesome Friday guys!!

I think I'm having a baby who likes to sleep with his bum in the air galaxy! It will be fun to compare how they behave in and out of the womb.

Congratulations claire and mzzf

What a week mzzf! Just a bit eventful! Thank you for sharing the picture. She's an absolute beauty. All the best in your new home. Take it easy with the unpacking, and please keep coming back to talk to us. I'm more than keep to hear details about the birth.

38 weeks for me today - at last! I'm feeling much better after a night in my own bed. I slept from 12-5:45 without a wee, which is the best I've had in ages. I'm coming out in big bruises after the fall, so going to have a very easy day at home today.
Happy Friday everyone

Congratulations Mzzzf and Claire. Mzzzf, your little one is gorgeous. Can't believe you managed such a long journey so soon after a c.section. I hope your nipples heal quickly.

Frolic, glad you got home and that you slept better in your own bed. Take care today. Have you got arnica for your bruises?

Well done for getting your hospital bag packed Galaxy.

Is anyone else feeling really emotional and hormonal? I had a tricky day with DS yesterday (just lots of tantrums, nap refusal, two-hour bedtime etc.) and now I just feel really low, tearful and all over the place. I'm probably tired, but I'm just a bit worried.

Ahh lovely baby news!!! Massive congratualtions to you Mzzf and Claire!! Glad to hear you're both doing well!

Mzzf: God, haven't you been busy!! She's absolutely beautiful, thank you for sharing the pic, she's just perfect!! I'm up for all the gory details :D You sound so happy and positive, I hope i'm like that soon after the birth! Hope your nips are healing nicely – sounds frickin painful!!! Make sure you're resting lots and not doing too much unpacking!!

Equimum: Sorry to hear you're feeling a emotional and tired :( THE END IS IN SIGHT THOUGH!! I felt better after having a good cry yesterday, hope you have a better day today.

Galaxy2014: Well done on packing the bag!! I think I just need to put toiletries in mine – oh yes and clothes! Oh and chargers and camera – yeh really need to make a list!

Frolicacid: Rest those bruises today – perhaps a soak in the bath? Pleased that the scan went well – must have been lovely to see him after all this time! That's some serious sleep (envious!)

My mum is coming up today to stay, she's being my hospital chauffeur - got my (hopefully) last two appointments with the consultant and anaesthetist. Think i'm going to say no to the general anaesthetic if i need a c-section - they can give me a spinal instead (i hope)...

Congratulations mzzzf and claire! mzzzf she is absolutely beautiful! I'm so jealous. God your nipple story sounds awful, hope you are relaxing and healing nicely.

fanby hope your appointments go well, let us know how you get on. I agree with the whole MIL washing up thing too! Mine came to stay the other day and cooked and washed up, it was great! Batch cooking today will include curry, ragu and lasagne!

frolic sorry to hear about your fall, how scary! Really glad baby and you are both well now and at least you got to see baby on the scan again.

dozy hope you enjoy your concert tonight!!

Welcome galaxy!!

equimum sorry you're feeling a bit poop. I don't know how you ladies with kids already manage. I am only looking after me and it's exhausting enough!!

So I'm 37 weeks today, baby can come whenever he likes now! Although like you fanby I have zero signs at all that anything is happening. No BH, niggles, cramps, zilch! Defo think he will be a late arrival! We have our last antenatal class tonight, can't believe how quickly they've passed. But made some friends I think so will keep seeing them I hope.

Hope everyone has a lovely weekend. I'm looking after my niece overnight and having a family trip to Brighton tomorrow. Reckon I will be absolutely knackered as hip pain has returned by at least I can rest the rest of the week!

Arnica is a fab idea equimum. I have some in my hospital bag for after the birth. Will check that it's ok to take now.
I'm also feeling really hormonal and emotional. Not sure if it's just being pregnant or if I'm feeling a bit weird after the funeral, fall and hospital stay.

I hope the appointments have gone ok today fanby? I'm definitely planning a soak in the bath when dh comes home.

Enjoy your family day and time with dn pinkie. I did pretty much the same last week at 37 weeks and had a fab time. I hope your hip pain isn't bad.

Lazy day for me so far. I've done a few bits of washing as the sun's out. But other than that it's been the sofa all the way.
I watched the last two obem's on catch up. Hopefully all the crying has released the pent up emotions from the past few days. I can't find Nashville on Netflix or any of the catch up stuff we have with you view TV.

WE HAVE KEYS, I REPEAT WE HAVE KEYS!!!

Picked up keys to our house around noon and went straight over with the berlingo filled with boxes... And found that since we viewed, the owners have let a young single man with a dog stay in the house and OH MY GOD THE MESS. It STANK, there were piles of literal rubbish in every room, and one room was basically lined with crusty jizz socks, dog treats, and leftover takeaway. So today I spent the day cleaning. Who the hell puts a pan covered in pasta sauce in a cupboard and leaves it there???

On the plus side, no further sign of baby making an appearance, our next door neighbours are lovely, and my friend came and helped us clean the place to a reasonable state ready for an army of mates to help me to move boxes over tomorrow. :) We might yet be moved before baby arrives!

Congratulations Mzzf and Claire! Lovely news. Names?

Glad you got the keys Siani although it sounds awful too. Hope you leave it to your army . Just you be the General!

Frolic, Nashville is on 4od. I don't know if they have it from the start though. It's on season three now.

Paper pants are scratchy. Better off with cheapie, giant granny pants from supermarket/poundland.

I'm an emotional wreck today. Don't know what is the matter. Feeling very down and scared and tired and isolated. Bloody hormones I suppose. Dd has been quite sweet at times "Hello mummy. Mummy ok?" Mind you she's been a wee scunner too and feeding like crazy. I'm glad I'm going to avoid lots of the getting going issues with bf by still feeding her but I'm pretty apprehensive about how it'll work. Also very self conscious about what people will say/think/look about it all. There's so little support for breastfeeding as it is and heaps of pressure to just give formula. I was the only one last time at our playgroup and I think it's likely going to be the same again. All the ladies are pregnant or just had. Gah! I need to stop thinking about the bad bits and focus on the good. Just a bit fed up I suppose.

Happy weekend everyone! Keep bouncing on the balls!

Congratulations Siani, although sorry about the state of the place. I hope the problems are easily rectified and you are able to get everything in today. Good luck.

Fanby how did your appointments go?

Joskar, I'm sorry to hear you are also feeling a bit emotionally rough. I hope it passes quickly. It's so cute when toddlers realise you're not feeling great and express some understanding, isn't it? I always melt when DS does his concerned look and asks if I 'm okay. I 'm also sorry you're not anticipating much support with BF. That 'a a real shame. Where I am, most women I know BF and there is a lot of support available. Mind you, I fed DS until he was 25 months and the eyebrows did start to raise before then. You have already done such an amazing job with your toddler, so I am sure you will do equally as well with this LO. It's can't be easy, though, when the norm is otherwise.

Aargh I've missed so much in a day. Read up on everything yesterday but had no time to post.

Mzzf your baby girl is absolutely stunning!!! What a beautiful baby. Did u tell us her name or is that a secret? Well done on the move after having a section and go you for for attempting breastfeeding. I really have no preference either way in regards to breast and bottle. Each one keeps the baby alive and well and that's all that matters.

Siani yey for the keys but how disgusting of the previous owners to do that! They should.have cleaned before they handed the keys over. I'm surprised all this cleaning and moving hasn't started your labour off lol.

Claire congratulations on your birth, I can't read back while I write this to see what u had. I have a look after.

Fanby hope you're doing ok :) hope you will be allowed the spinal when it comes to it.

Joskar who cafes about people's opinions. U just do what u wanna do. Just out of interest because I don't know the answer but will your milk go back to the early colostrum type milk when new baby comes or will it stay as more mature milk because of you still feeding? I honestly have no idea.

Frolic glad all was well with the scan and at least you got a other peep at your baby boy.

I spent another 4 hours in the day unit yesterday getting bp checked etc etc. And then they booked me in for induction on Monday! !! I'll be 39+3 then. Didn't expect them to say Monday. Now it's all becoming more real I'm getting nervous about the induction process but I'll just have to get on with. I'm definitely not against having an epidural though with it being likely to be more painful. So this is my last weekend of freedom.

Had a busy day yesterday at hospital then tidying house then made it to the 80s and 9ps night. I'd taken a bag full of blankets to sit on when my legs got tired and too puffy. Unfortunately just when I was ready to need a sit down a litter picker kindly ran off with my rucksack thinking it wasn't anybodies and i then went on a wild goose chase trying to find where she would have taken it. I got upset with dp for not coming with me but in all fare Ness I kind of scarpered really quickly to find it so he prob just didn't know where I went. So basically I ended up absolutely knackering myself walking from one side of the place to the other trying to find lost property and it was a big place, all to no avail. And then I couldn't sit down to rest because my rucksack was gone so my feet were killing by the end. Luckily dp and his mate went on the search for it when everyone was leaving and eventually found lost property and it was in there. Only valuable thing it had was my car and house keys. Didn't care if it had just been the blankets.

The actual concert was fantastic though. I had a really good time dancing away trying to make labour start naturally on its own. No luck so far though unfortunately.

So today is most definitely a feet up and rest day. I've still got some cleaning and tidying to do before baby comes but I'll do that Sunday I think.

Midwife coming to check bp today. Had a headache all day and night yesterday that didn't go away with paracetamol. Forgot to mention it when I was at the day unit. I very rarely have headaches and paracetamol usually fixes it so I was a bit concerned about it but will mention it to midwife today when she comes. I just wanted to be able to go to concert first and then worry about other stuff after.

Awww it's lovely to see the new arrivals coming through - Congrats Claire & Mzzzf

Siani Congrats on getting the keys! I would be fuming if I walked in to the house and it was the state you described! Shame you couldn't get the previous owners to sort it out. However glad you have some helpers

Joskar shame to hear about the lack of support on BF. If anything where I am they push BF and have a lot of support groups around. Please don't let it get to you on what people think - it's the most normal thing in the world.

Well today I feel a bit crampy (no idea if thats good) and baby is definitely sitting low down on my bladder - notice it more when walking about - like a tugging sensation if that makes sense. However I think he's just a fidget and getting comfy.

Hope you all have lovely weekends.

Yippppeeeee!!!!! siani congratulations on your new home. How disgusting of the previous owner to leave the place in such a state. People never cease to astound me. Good luck with the big move today. Don't do too much!

I hope you're feeling better today jockstar? Dd sounds very cute in her concern.
Thanks for the Nashville tip - I'll check out 4od later.
Sorry you are feeling worried about the bf thing. It's so hard to do something when you feel judged and unsupported. It sounds like you have done a grand job with Dd, and hopefully you will find tandem feeding a breeze. Try not to worry

Monday dozy!!! OMG!!! There won't be many of us left soon! Better that you don't go much longer if your bp is misbehaving. Try not to worry about the induction. My best friend has had 3 and all have been very smooth with babies arriving within 6 hours of the pessary. I think you never read those kind of stories as people only tend to post about difficult experiences, I'm sure that plenty of people have quick and easy ones. My friend is convinced that a couple of epo capsules up the fanjo for a few days before the induction helped ripen her cervix.
Glad you had a good time at the concert. Enjoy your last weekend of being just the two of you

Have a good weekend galaxy, hopefully those tightenings mean something is brewing.

Happy weekend everyone else as well! We have gorgeous weather, so are heading to the beach after a big breakfast.

Best get sticking some up there hadnt I frolic eek. I've only taken about 3 epo over the last week or two. I'm a but rubbish at remembering. My dp has to go to work on Monday for a few hours to tie up loose ends because he didn't know it was happening and he works an hour away so baby can't come too quickly lol. But I have to be there for 8:30 so I'm guessing it will take a few hours before they even start the induction process so I'm sure he'll make it in time. My mum's gonna come with me initially. Good to hear positive experiences of induction though. Thanks for that.

Hope all your Saturday's are going well.

For more gore and info re induction and EMCS read below!
So I went into hospital on the Friday to start th induction in the morning. I was given the (awful, awful, awful!) pessary - which is essential a tiny plastic square shaped thing one string that shoved up into your fanjo. Not to scare you but I could feel every millimetre that it moved, it's more of a sting type ache rather than full on pain.
Let me just say now internal VEs are fucking horrid, but now I know why they are for me (more later!).
So the pessary didn't do anything much until about 12hrs after it was implanted, then BOOM contractions every 4 mins, like super breath taking period pains. I was only allowed paracetamol, ibuprofen and then when it was too much I was given some pethidine to help take the edge off. They do all take the edge off but my Lordy can you still feel them!
The VE post pessary showed that I wasn't dilating at all or effacing So I was given the gel. Which felt like heaven are the scratchy pessary! Contractions still kept going throughout all of the, every 4 mins so all the MWs are thinking my cervix has got to play catch up soon. I had another VE after 6 hours wi the gel and hoorah I was dilated to 2-3cm but my cervix was not effacing or dropping so they took me to delivery suite to break my waters in the hope that would get the ball rolling. Also because by this point I had been contracting non-stop for 24hrs they took pity on me and gave me G&A too - which is bloody magical stuff!! I started taking crap about Richard Branson and Virgin Airlines!

So waters get broken at 2-3cm, and I'm started on the syntocin drip. At this point I'm offered an epidural and I take it since although the frequency of the contractions haven't increased the intensity had. Epidurals are the schizz!!!! For the first time in days I managed to sleep, and had a 90mins cat nap, sheer heaven!

So there I am on the drip, epidural-ed off my tits and waiting for my cervix to play ball and pop this baby out - except my cervix never wanted to join the party. I waited for 20hrs on the drip but still nada. My anatomy is such that I would never ever have been able to get her own the normal route, also why internals were so painful for me. So the decision was made to get her out of the sunroof. They essentially topped up my epidural and wheeled me in almost immediately as theatre was free. Having a CS is a bit of a surreal experience, it's all very calm and measured and I felt 100% safe and looked after. I actually watched my own operation in the mirrored overhead lights. Getting her out was the quick part and you really do find yourself waiting with baited breathe to hear them start crying. She was then put straight on me for skin to skin whilst they stitched me up - which was the long part of the operation. I genuinely didn't feel any pain or discomfort at all in theatre, really only one time when due to her position about 4 sets of hands where pushing down onto my abdomen to get her to pop out.

I was discharged from hospital the next day just on paracetamol and ibuprofen. The urinary catheter and drain was taken out the following morning on the ward and I went home that afternoon. Ok I'm not totally mobile and dancing round but I can get around I just am limited if anything falls on the floor hahaaha! Both Dh's and my own mother have been fantastic and I would say that just having the DH around wouldnt' be enough post CS.

Feel free to ask any questions if you want to!

Oh and hurry up and get your babies out ladies - having them here is AWESOME!

Congratulations mzzzf! I am so pleased for you !! Can't believe after all this time our babies are arriving!

I'm 39+1 today and alternatively ready for baby to come now, and also needing more time!! I've had really watery discharge (TMI, sorry!) the past few days and there was a tiny streak of blood but no real symptoms. Am seeing my MW on Monday though, so can ask her opinion then!

Off to a friend's wedding this evening, we were invited for the whole day but I didn't sleep again last night, so had to have a good long kip this afternoon. Now hoping baby doesn't decide to make an appearance on the dance floor!!

Happy weekend, everybody!!

Mzzzf that sounds like the most epic labour, but as though it was actually quite calm at the end. Well done for going so long and going through all of that. Thanks for the positive insight into having a c. Section after all of that. We have been warned that we may be advised to have a c.section if I have the same problems as last time, so your story is reassuring. Thanks.

Dozy, wow, you have a date. I too have heard lots of positive induction stories, so hopefully yours will be another one of those. Good luck for Monday. Oh, and great that you also got to go to your concert.

DS has been desperate to go for a beach picnic and as he is now out of isolation, we decided to head down today. DH, however, decided we should go for a 'little' stroll, which turned out to be a four mile round walk in the sun!!!! Suffice to say they I now feeling a bit sore, but hoping there may be done truth in the idea that walking brings on labour. We stopped at the supermarket on the way home as DH wanted to get a few bits for his hospital 'man bag'. All I can say is that he won't be going hungry while I'm in labour!!!!

Thanks for the support. I'm just feeling a bit wobbly. Need to read my Ina May book again and get myself back in a positive frame of mind. I've been in touch with a hypnobirthing lady and hoping to speak to her on Monday. Also getting more physio then too which will make a big difference. Sore! Haven't had any in 5 weeks. I'm not in a wheelchair like last time but still suffering quite a bit with the spd.

Mzzf - what a time you had! Glad your emcs went well. So good you had skin to skin straight away. I didn't last time and that's for sure in my birth plan this time if the vbac is a non starter.

Both bairns will get colostrum. Might make dd's nappies a bit freaky! I'm quite sure it will seriously raise eyebrows. Even friends who were quite supportive of me bf have been very down on my feeding dd this long (she's 2 in September). I wanted it to be a gradual thing for her to stop and she just hasn't. It's not been a big "statement " on my part and I know it'll be taken as that.

Good luck, Dozy! All that dancing might have worked but if not then hope you have a good induction. My induction last time was no bother.

mzzf thank you so much for taking the time to write your birth story. It's very useful to hear about and help prepare myself mentally for all eventualities.

Well ive had an interesting day. So after a great night last night i waited in all day for midwife resting. I did a bit of polishing and clearing up rubbish and general tidying and some laundry. Well I put the laundry on anyway. Dp spent day gardening. When laundry had finished in asked him if he'd hang it up but he refused so I had to do it. (Little bit mad at him for being a rubbish boyfriend and not being more caring and understanding that I need to rest but that's another story) So then midwife arrived and for some reason I was all flustered about a stranger being in my house. And because it was just a bp check it was the first thing she did. And it was raised yet again. Did a wee sample and had a bit of protein in so was sent up to the hospital to delivery suite yet again for monitoring. BP high on arrival but started to come down after 15 mins. Urine there didn't have protein but I have noticed that when they dipstick it they never leave it the full minute before checking it so I'm sure sometimes results are wrong but that's another thing all together.

Reviewed by doctor who decided to up my dose of labetalol to 4 times a day and she wanted me to have another overnight stay to make sure bp was behaving on new dose. Then 5 mins later she changed her mind because she felt sorry for me and said as long as I stay for a other hour or so for some bp checks and then come back first thing tomorrow morning then I can go home. She also wanted to examine me to see what my cervix was up to ahead of the induction on Monday and to do a sweep to see if can start labour naturally rather than inducing.

Can I just say that the sweep was the most painful thing I've yet to experience so far! Not sure if everyone's the same as me but my goodness it was horrible. I'm not really very good at relaxing when something hurts so i tightened everything up rather than relaxing. Anyway she did manage it and she said cervix was thin and 1.5 cms dilated. I know that's not very much but it's better than it being completely closed.

Then midwives checked my bp which of course had increased due to the pain so she decided to ignore that one and then repeat a little later. Next two were fine so I was good to go. Got up of bed and there was blood all over it. They did say the sweep might provoke me to have a bloody show but didn't expect to see that much. I put some tissue in my knickers and asked for pad when midwife came back in. She then wanted to see the bleed. So mortifying lol. She said it should have jelly blobs in it as well as blood which it didn't really but she still let me go and just told me to keep an eye on it. It's so weird seeing blood after 9 months of nothing!

So I'm secretly hoping that I'm one of the people that a sweep is successful with and I don't need to be induced but will just have to wait and see. Have a bit of discomfort down there but only if I move around so I'm not holding out much hope.

mzzf is internal VE's the same pain as a sweep? Not sure I could cope with that. I could have done with some gas and air while they did that! Home now but will have to go back for 9am. So relieved not to be an inpatient. Couldnt cope with another night of no sleep pre induction. It really knocked me out of sync having no sleep.

Hope all the rest of you are ok and these babies start making an appearance sooner rather than later. Can't believe that in the next few days all this is going to be over for me and she will actually be here!

Oh and mzzf I'm definitely very very open to an epidural!!

dozy I'm probably not the best person to ask as I didn't actually get to have a sweep due to the position and closure of my cervix. I was and will apparently always be high and 'unfavourable'. But yes my internals really really hurt! I had to take paracetamol afterwards when I had them done in clinics, they were achey for about 24hrs afterwards.

The fact that you've got some dilation and thinning is a great sign! Fingers crossed it stimulates you spontaneously into labour

Joskar I'm jealous of your BF success! I thought I'd be totally ok with formula, but I'm about 90% ok with not having the ability to boob feed. I thought I'd get to make a choice about feeding not only have an option of one! So sod what anyone else thinks!!! Is your LO thriving and happy? If she is then bingo!
Just out of curiosity though, does she get food too, or just BF all her calories? I wonder if she'll notice a change at the boobie buffet with the colostrum!!